Big Jim Cambo’s story of Glastonbury 2025…

In the lead up to Glastonbury my excitement rises, as does an obsession with the weather forecast, but also creates panic – have I remembered enough types of footwear? Did I pack both factor 50 suncream for the daytime, and thermal clothing for the night? Is the forecast good enough so I can leave my canoe at home?

Also in the lead up, how can one person be so obsessed with the live Glastonbury webcam, to see what has changed from my last visit just days earlier [ok, sometimes it’s hours!], or wading through the lineup of 90+ stages to juggle what acts I definitely don’t want to miss, those I’d like to catch if I’m nearby when they’re on stage, and the ones that unfortunately clash! And the festival is not just about music, as there’s comedy, theatre, circus, crafting, the calm haven of the Green Fields, and much more besides (want Salsa or Brazilian Funk & Samba dancing lessons – Glastonbury is your place).

So what became of Glastonbury 2025, a festival I’m fortunate to admit I’ve been to quite a few times.

Well, best laid plans… it just never quite goes as intended.

We got there on the Thursday morning (myself, Mrs C, and the regular Glasto ‘gang’ we go with), and were inside the security fence at midday (it’s designed to keep out non-ticket holders, not to lock in escapees from Neil Young or Rod Stewart 😉). We kicked off at the Cider Bus, close to the Pyramid stage field, & which has been a tradition for many years now. Not that I love cider, but maybe I pick the wrong one – more on that later.

There is some music on the Thursday, but the main stages open on Friday. For us though, it mainly involves just a wander and a few refreshments, however my firm plan to see Liverpool’s former Fresh Fave regulars The Cheap Thrills, all turned to dust. The band on at the Bread & Roses ‘pub’ before them (Rizzy & the Gents) were hugely entertaining, and I managed to briefly see longtime FOTN colleague Paul Kerr there too, but after they finished I stepped outside the tent for 15 minutes, only to return to find a crowd half the capacity of Anfield had descended on the venue for The Cheap Thrills. Having seen them live many times I know how good they are, so it was unfortunate but I had to make a sad retreat.

From Friday the temperature got hotter & hotter, to one desperate point where I was attempting to chase the shade from a fluttering flag! And at night, when in previous years we needed numerous layers to ward off the cold, it was surprisingly mild. Musically, Friday kicked off with Supergrass at the main Pyramid stage – one I rarely visit as I prefer the smaller stages (not just for smaller crowds, but also where a big screen isn’t required to see the act on stage). A recurring theme soon took hold though, as I missed numerous acts that I intended to catch (the site is huge, so intentions never go to plan – you can compare the festival site vs where you live via https://www.glastopedia.com/festivals/maps/overlay). My Friday highlight, however, was the soulful RnB from MRCY on the BBC Introducing stage, and I’m sure they’ll be hitting bigger stages in the future.

Saturday was modestly more successful re catching intended acts, with the dark electro pop of Gary Numan and the joyous Afrobeat & jazzy Ezra Collective as two highlights, especially being part of a field of about 15,000 people dancing to Ezra. But as has been the case for many years, a non-musical highpoint for me is to grab a relaxing hour or two on the hill above the Park Stage, near the Glastonbury sign (which we’d done on the Friday too). There’s a bar up there as well, and also the tiny Crows Nest venue, which always rewards weary travellers who have braved the climb with discussion, live music, and DJs (depending on the hour of the day or night you visit). That whole Park & hill area is like a festival within a festival, and the views across the whole site are amazing too.

The ‘battery charge’ on my legs had started to drop towards red by now though, such is the amount of walking done across the weekend, so a few hours down-time was welcomed, plus it’s also when some unexpected treats occur, such as these fluorescent drummers.

By Sunday we were all knackered, but at least trudging through mud wasn’t the cause – the ground was bone dry all weekend, even if there was the odd shower on the Wednesday & Thursday. Three nights of about 4 hours sleep had caught up, but in pacing ourselves we were able to benefit from what became the best day of music (for me). Geordie Greep (ex Black Midi) and Royel Otis at The Park were fabulous, but sandwiched in between at a different stage (pun intended, as we went to grab some food), was Shaboozey. Mrs C & I had never even heard of him, but his mix of country & hip-hop was superb. That’s the beauty of festivals – highlights are often found completely by chance. By Sunday evening the six of us, who often wander in different directions to catch our own preferences, get together for the whole evening, regardless of who we see. This year that took in the very impressive Goat and The Big Moon, and a few minutes of both Parcels and Olivia Rodrigo. I did, naturally, miss another Fresh Faves act I’d intended to catch though, Red Rum Club.

We ended back where we started, at the Cider Bus. By now I’d realised I’ve been drinking the ‘wrong one’ for too many years, but this year found the “medium still” cider a bit too likeable (given the strength!). The sun was setting in the clear skies though, the atmosphere was incredible, and the six of us just chatted, laughed, and reminisced on another amazing Glastonbury weekend, before we headed back to our sleeping bags, and a final night of not enough sleep!

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